Injured Fisherman Hoisted in Shelikof Strait During Storm

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew transfers a patient to Kodiak Fire Department personnel in Kodiak, Alaska, Jan. 13, 2015. The patient was reported to be suffering from an abdominal injury while pulling in crab pots and needed to be medevaced from his vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Diana Honings 

Jay Barrett/KMXT

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevac’d an ailing fisherman from the fishing vessel Irene H in the Shelikof Strait  Tuesday.

The Jayhawk crew rendezvoused with the Irene H, safely hoisted the man aboard the helicopter and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services in Kodiak for further care.

The Coast Guard received a request for assistance from the crew of Irene H when the crewman reportedly suffered an abdominal injury while pulling in crab pots and required medical assistance.  The duty flight surgeon recommended the medevac and the Jayhawk crew was launched to conduct the rescue.

Lt. Greg Dahl, pilot of the Jayhawk, said the operation was challenging from the start, with the weather conditions making for a rough ride.

Weather on scene at the time of the incident was reported as 25 mph winds and 7-foot seas.